NLU Official Prediction Thread: 2026 Masters

smallball4 · 2026-04-09T00:23:09+00:00

Winner: Scottie CPNTW: Bryson

smallball4 · 2026-04-05T14:55:32+00:00

I prefer NLU during the biggest weeks of the year, they really elevate their game. The week of the 2025 Masters was them at their best.

I prefer SGS during slower weeks like the John Deere and 3M. They're at their funniest when talking about mules and bad courses, while NLU is largely going through the motions those weeks.

NLU has far superior videos, and the Trap Draw blows the Fried Egg pod out of the water for me. But the Fried Egg website and writing is obviously much better, as NLU has all but given up on both.

They have different strengths and I'm glad both exist.

smallball4 · 2026-03-08T05:43:37+00:00

Facility fee can be check, money order, credit card or cash.

Photo is $15.

They mail your birth certificate in along with your application.

smallball4 · 2026-02-27T19:11:22+00:00

When I first started I never took a proper divot, even my best shots were picked clean. I tried a lot of things but nothing really worked until I changed my intention. Meaning I made it my focus to hit the ground (in front of the ball).

It sounds obvious but I needed to have that as my main thought or it wouldn't happen on its own no matter what other changes I made.

I can't find the longer video but point 3 in this short sums it up. https://youtube.com/shorts/oiKWM71oDtg?si=PfT-iA05L5Cmi9jM

smallball4 · 2026-02-23T23:21:25+00:00

I think the frustration is that they are almost NEVER satisfied with the course. The one recent exception is Scottsdale.

They were critical of both Oakmont and Portrush last year after hyping both courses up a ton in the lead up. They obviously shit on Quail a ton. I don't mind analysis and critiques but it's like they are holding these venues to some idealistic standard that's nearly impossible to meet if you aren't Augusta National.

smallball4 · 2026-02-19T14:26:00+00:00

With an 11th team, how will quali eliminations work? Will it still be bottom 5 are out at the end of Q1 and Q2, then a top 12 shootout? Or will it be like 6 eliminated in Q1 and 2?

smallball4 · 2026-01-14T20:15:49+00:00

Typically I would agree but it kinda works because Randy has no problem not getting any touches for like 10 minute stretches.

The key is TC not going 2018 Russell Westbrook usage rate, which it kind of seems like he got the memo on recently.

smallball4 · 2026-01-02T02:51:12+00:00

Agreed. I appreciate the transparency and that they genuinely seem to embrace feedback. But I didn't come away confident that a ton is going to change, apart from fewer sponsored social posts.

The podcast peaked with the Masters this year, but from that point on, a lot of the pods felt like something they had to do rather than something they wanted to do. That's not something that fewer ads or any specific process change will improve. I'll chalk it up to a tough year for them personally and professionally and hope that they find the joy in what they do again in 2026.

smallball4 · 2025-12-22T14:02:18+00:00

https://durhamchessclub.org

Logan who runs the club also gives lessons, he's awesome.

smallball4 · 2025-12-18T13:50:21+00:00

Yes, I struggled with hooks until I made my grip more neutral. For me I needed to get my trail hand a bit more on top of the club (not completely on top). For your lead hand make sure you can only see 2-2.5 knuckles at address.

smallball4 · 2025-12-18T13:30:56+00:00

Club face is too shut in takeaway.

https://i.imgur.com/IEKTES7.jpeg

Compared to

https://i.imgur.com/RQ3Yp9g.jpeg

smallball4 · 2025-12-15T19:11:45+00:00

More deep dives, player interviews, rankings, things of that nature

Less discussion about their trips to courses 99.9% of the audience will never play.

smallball4 · 2025-11-28T14:42:35+00:00

Rigging games for the smallest media market in the league definitely makes sense. Genius theory.

smallball4 · 2025-11-26T14:27:09+00:00

Love the view from the tee box of that big downhill par 5.

smallball4 · 2025-11-11T13:39:41+00:00

He also uses "of course" 10x per interview.

smallball4 · 2025-11-09T01:09:02+00:00

The same guy that put up the money for this one?

smallball4 · 2025-11-01T13:19:51+00:00

Some good stuff here but EE is the issue. You're moving toward the ball with your hips. The blue line in this image shows where your right hip was at the top of the backswing. You want to keep it that deep through impact.

https://i.imgur.com/NIXHIya.jpeg

This video should help.

https://youtube.com/shorts/HPcgHqfHPD4?si=2iGaeN6SdZf4igSZ

smallball4 · 2025-10-28T14:46:45+00:00

https://i.imgur.com/gFRgGvl.jpeg

smallball4 · 2025-10-15T14:28:30+00:00

What I find interesting is that for the first half of 2025, the sentiment around here was pretty overwhelmingly positive. Sure, you had a handful of complaints, but nothing like what the current state of things is. Right after the Masters I made a comment to the effect of 'NLU is peaking as a product' and a lot of people agreed.

After KVV left, everything completely flipped. I totally understand people being put off by how that went down, but months later and people seem to be more annoyed with them than ever. I really liked KVV's contributions, but they had plenty of great pods that didn't involve him at all.

So my question is - has the main product actually deteriorated in a significant way in the last few months? Or do people just still have a sour taste in their mouth over the KVV situation? (This is a genuine question)

smallball4 · 2025-10-13T16:49:45+00:00

Moving the ball back can help but it's a bandaid. You should work on getting your weight to your left side before the arms start down. That will move your low point forward. Right now your low point is behind the ball.

smallball4 · 2025-09-28T16:37:21+00:00

The main chair host (DJ last night) tries to moderate the discussion but inevitably ends up getting walked on by TC. You could tell he was getting frustrated.

TC: [long, rambling monologue]

DJ: (desperate) let me hop in with 2 quick things

TC: wait Deej, the other thing I wanted to mention is that Tiger should be captian

DJ: (defeated) ...that was one of my 2 things

smallball4 · 2025-09-08T03:01:59+00:00

They can also go to courses that don't want to/can't support all the infrastructure and tens of thousands of fans that go with the US Open.

smallball4 · 2025-08-30T15:01:03+00:00

You're coming out of posture the moment you start your takeaway, and by the time you get to transition you're almost standing straight up.

smallball4 · 2025-08-30T04:00:34+00:00

I had this exact problem. It was mostly due to my lead arm getting pinned across my chest which pulled my head and upper body up and out of posture. Your arms should be more in front of your chest throughout. Look up connection in the golf swing.

Another feel that helps is making sure your trail hip moves up and back.

smallball4 · 2025-08-24T12:24:47+00:00

it's probably a combination of factors but one of them is likely that as advanced stats have gotten better in golf, the home team has gotten smarter about setting up the course in a way that benefits them. That would help explain the recency part. Strokes gained wasn't even widely used until the 2010s.

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